State Tournament Early two Quarterfinal Results

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo</a>   It is not a given that the three Dominant Five teams that make it to the state tournament each year will find their way into the state semifinals depending on the draw, but the history of the tournament makes it feel that way.   Two Louisville powers in the defending state champion Assumption Rockets own a state record 23 state championships and the Mercy Jaguars are third with seven with the last one coming in 2014. Bowling Green showed it could potentially challenge Mercy in the first quarterfinal game, but the Jaguars held them off and the Rockets rolled to a third straight appearance in the semifinals with a sound win over the McCracken County Mustangs.   Mercy 3, Bowling Green 0 (25-14, 25-17, 30-28)   The Jaguars (26-14) found their way back into the state semifinals with a sweep of the Purples.   Serving turned out to be the difference in this game. The Jaguars had 11 to five for Bowling Green (33-7). The Jaguars came out faster and it showed with a .256 hitting percentage for the match compared to .092 for the Purples.   Mercy junior [player_tooltip player_id='479273' first='Mady' last='Yaden'] lit up the floor with a solid .600 hitting percentage landing 11 kills minus two errors on 15 attempts. [player_tooltip player_id='484254' first='Alli' last='Riegling'] followed with eight kills with [player_tooltip player_id='611834' first='Nalani' last='Derringer'], [player_tooltip player_id='554148' first='Emma' last='Cronen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='479301' first='Allison' last='O'Shea'] coming through with big swings. [player_tooltip player_id='245633' first='Maia' last='Marin'] had a solid game with 23 assists and nine digs with Cronen also digging up nine balls. [player_tooltip player_id='172954' first='Madisyn' last='Green'] dup up seven balls to go with three and Riegling led Mercy with four.   The Purples knew they had an advantage at the net with 6-4 junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212192' first='Amirra' last='Bailey']. She smacked some balls down hard with 12 kills and blocked two, but Bowling Green could not get her enough touches. [player_tooltip player_id='276175' first='Morgan' last='Rockrohr'] had a good game digging and landed some big kills with libero [player_tooltip player_id='477191' first='Claire' last='Lawless'] and Olivia Arauz making some good passes. Sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='741315' first='JoEllen' last='Marshall'] also set things up well at the net with 19 assists.   After Mercy won the first two games, Bowling Green had some chances to win the third game. The game went back and forth before Derringer landed a kill and Riegling an ace to finish the game.   Bowling Green graduates four seniors from this year's team. They are Kincheloe, Lawless, Aubrey Sharp and Leyla Spurlock.   Assumption 3, McCracken County 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-14)   The Rockets (33-8) used their size and speed to take control early and overpowered the Mustangs (35-6). That showed with 42 teams and seven blocks to 30 kills and three blocks for McCracken County. Assumption hit an astounding .576 compared to .200 for McCracken County.   The Rockets landed nine aces led by four from the jump serving [player_tooltip player_id='172951' first='Bailey' last='Blair']. Blair also led the Rockets with 11 kills with [player_tooltip player_id='172952' first='Emilee' last='Fuller'] dishing the ball around well again. [player_tooltip player_id='172950' first='Emma' last='Barnett'], [player_tooltip player_id='477120' first='Janie' last='Eichberger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'] helped the Rockets dominate the net with kills and blocking. The game turned so one-sided that Assumption played some of the younger players in the third game.   [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'] has seen a lot of action for Assumption as a freshman and made some digs in the win. She credited Assumption head coach Ron Kordes, his staff and her teammates for helping her adjust to the varsity level and giving her confidence to do the job.   McCracken County standout outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='159358' first='Addison' last='Hart'] put together a solid game in her brilliant career. Hart is graduating in December and enrolling at Liberty University in the spring. Hart and Emily Hatfield both had .545 hitting percentages in the game. [player_tooltip player_id='757541' first='Taylor' last='Dugan'] also had a good game setting and [player_tooltip player_id='531304' first='Elizabeth' last='Gilbert'] led the Mustangs in digs. Hart and Gilbert are the team's lone two seniors.   Tournament Schedule:   <a href="https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kyvb24?id=tournament_220200">https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kyvb24?id=tournament_220200</a>   Notable Performances    Yaden (pictured) had another unbelievable game for the Jaguars. She may be quiet off the court, but she's fierce on the court and her teammates can rely on her to put balls down when Mercy needs a big kill. Yaden consistently hits to the sides of blocks knowing her strengths. Yaden said she welcomed the challenge of facing Bailey, who is four inches taller than her and ended up with a .600 hitting percentage landing 11 kills on 15 attempts with just two errors. Yaden also had two big blocks making the right reads and timing the paths of the balls. She got touches on some balls helping out the Mercy defense.     Marin had an outstanding all-around game for the Jaguars setting the tone at the net. Marin dished the ball off to a number of different hitters all over the net. She sets her feet well and puts balls where her hitters can put maximum power into them. Marin constantly moves her feet making solid digs on balls that come her way. Marin said the Jaguars play a tough schedule so they are not surprised by anything they see at state. Marin finished with 23 assists and nine digs in the Mercy win.     When Bailey rises up and puts a lot of force into balls, they fly off her hands like darts. She landed a number of those in the win in addition to some tip kills when holes opened on the floor as the result of Mercy trying to position for the hard hits. Bailey also does a great job doubling up with teammates for big blocks. Bailey finished the game with 12 kills and two blocks.     Eichberger knew she had to leap up and get her touches to slow down McCracken County's attack and stood up to the challenge. She timed up balls with her teammates and put them down on the other side if not popping them in the air for Assumption to start the offensive rhythm. Eichberger said Dugan did a good job of disguising where the ball was going, but the team made the necessary adjustments. Eichberger finished with a team-high .889 hitting percentage landing eight kills on nine attempts with no errors and three blocks in the Assumption win.     Hooe took a number of hard swings and put balls down in the Assumption win. She consistently found the floor mixing in some tips becoming one of four hitters for Assumption that hit .588 or above. Hooe also helped Assumption control the net with solid blocks. Hooe finished with a .778 hitting percentage landing seven kills on nine attempts with no errors to go with three blocks.     Hart finished her outstanding career with a solid game for the Mustangs. She unleashes balls hard from the strong left side. Hart found ways to put balls between and around tough Assumption defenders on her way to a team-high 15 kills on 22 attempts and three errors for a .545 hitting percentage. Hart also managed to make some tough digs in the win.

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo